By B. Jason Brooks
Picking up from where they left off in 2025, horses from Claiborne Farm female families have continued winning at the highest levels on the international stage this year. These overachievers of 2026 so far include all-time great Romantic Warrior (IRE), European blue-blood Gstaad (GB), and Japanese heavyweight Sixpence (JPN), who have won a combined six group 1 races so far this year in the Northern Hemisphere, four of them classics.
With the Hancock family having maintained a broodmare band sired by their farm’s top stallions for more than a century, breeders have been lucky enough to buy into their coveted female families and had success for their own stables all over the world.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) – currently tied for third on the International Federation of Horse Racing’s World’s Best Racehorse Rankings – continues to show himself as one of the greatest horses on the globe, with an impressive four group 1 wins so far in 2026. He cemented his legendary status this year in sweeping Hong Kong’s Triple Crown races at Sha Tin Racecourse, including the 1,600-meter Stewards’ Cup in January, 2,000-meter Hong Kong Gold Cup in March, and 2,400-meter Champions & Chater Cup in May, the third horse to ever achieve the feat. His fourth group 1 win so far this year came in April in the 2,000-meter Qeii Cup, also at Sha Tin.
With a career that includes 15 group 1 wins in four different countries (Hong Kong, Japan, United Arab Emirates, and Australia), he is also the richest racehorse in history, with an eye-popping US $35.5 million in career earnings (US $3.7 million more than Forever Young {JPN} who ranks second on the all-time list).
The 8-year-old gelding was bred by David and Henrietta Egan’s Corduff Stud and American Tim Rooney, is owned by Peter Lau Pak Fai, and is trained by Danny Shum Chap Shing. By Acclamation (GB) and out Street Cry (IRE) mare Folk Melody (IRE), he hails from the Fabulous Native (by Le Fabuleux {FR}) branch of Claiborne foundation mare Alyne Que (by Raise a Native). (For more on his illustrious career and Claiborne female family, see the February 2025 Claiborne blog story “Romantic Warrior Representing the Claiborne Family of Fabulous Native in Saudi Cup”.
GSTAAD (GB) has securely placed himself as one of Europe’s top 3-year-old turf colts this year in taking the classic Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) covering a straight one mile at Curragh in May. He demonstrated an explosive turn of foot in the final quarter mile, sweeping past his rivals to a decisive three-length victory and setting a new race record of 1:35.69.
He entered the race having already established himself as a top-class colt as a juvenile by winning the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar. From ten career starts, his last eight have all been among grade 1 or group 1 company, winning or finishing runner up in all of them.
Bred by Kelly Thomas’ boutique Maywood Stud, Gstaad (GB) is owned by the Coolmore partnership of Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor, and is trained by the legendary Aidan O’Brien. By Starspangledbanner (AUS) and out of Exceed and Excel (AUS) mare Mosa Mine (GB), he is a half-brother to multiple group 1-winning sire Vandeek (GB), and their damline traces back to the Bobbles (by Sir Gallahad {FR}) branch of imported Claiborne foundation mare Bobolink (GB) (by Willonyx {GB}).
SIXPENCE (JPN) earned his first top-tier win in Tokyo Racecourse’s prestigious 1,600-meter turf Yasuda Kinen (G1) in June, an automatic qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on October 31st at Keeneland. He stalked the pacesetter along the rail before bursting out in the stretch to narrowly capture a thrilling four-way battle by a neck.
His prior group-stakes wins include the Shō Spring Stakes (G2) at Nakayama and the Mainichi Ōkan (G2) at Tokyo, both at age 3, followed by the Nakayama Kinen (G2) last year at age 4.
Sixpence (JPN) was bred by Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm, is owned by the Shadai Group’s racing syndicate Carrot Farm, and was trained by Sakae Kunieda until his retirement in February, after which he has been under the watchful eye of Hiroyasu Tanaka. By Kizuna (JPN), he is out of Twirling Candy mare Finley’sluckycharm, winner of the 2018 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Sixpence descends from the blue hen mare Jaconda (by Belfonds {FR}) branch of Claiborne foundation mare La France (by Sir Gallahad {FR}), the latter of which produced Claiborne-bred 1933 Kentucky Derby winner Johnstown.
The continued success of horses from Claiborne families is a testament to the farm’s breeding operation, with descendants of their foundation mares still winning at the highest levels decades after they foaled their first colts and fillies.
Last year’s group 1 winners from Claiborne families included the above-mentioned Romantic Warrior (IRE) winning the 1,800-meter Jebel Hatta (G1) at Meydan and the 2,000-meter Hong Kong Cup (G1) at Sha Tin; Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Wathnan Racing gelding Lazzat (FR), by Territories (IRE), in Royal Ascot’s 6-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1). He represents the Shore (by Round Table) branch of Claiborne foundation mare Bourtai (by Stimulus), one of the deepest, winning families in the U.S. and international stud books; the Coolmore team and Resolute Racing’s mare Believing (IRE), by Mehmas (IRE), in the 1,200-meter Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates. She is from the Ommiad (by Omar Khayyam {GB}) branch of Sunstep (GB) (by Sunstar {GB}); and, Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s Athbah Racing gelding Walk of Stars (GB), by Dubawi (IRE), in the 1,900-meter Al Maktoum Challenge (G1), also at Meydan. He is from the Basin (by Tom Rolfe) branch of Bourtai (mentioned above).
With five months left this year, there’s a good chance more horses from Claiborne families will join this elite club by achieving additional group 1 wins on the international racing scene.
Jason Brooks is a Thoroughbred racing and pedigree researcher, writer, and social media manager residing in Saratoga Springs, New York, and can be followed on X at @bjbrooksNY.